Reactions pour in as Iran's top general killed in US air strike

Tehran: Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed on Friday in a US strike on Baghdad's international airport in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Here are some reactions to the killing of Iran's top general.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei:

"All enemies should know that the jihad of resistance will continue with doubled motivation and a definite victory awaits the fighters in the holy war."

President Hassan Rouhani:

"Soleimani's martyrdom will make Iran more decisive to resist America's expansionism and to defend our Islamic values.With no doubt, Iran and other freedom seeking countries in the region will take his revenge."

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif:

"The brutality and stupidity of American terrorist forces in assassinating Commander Soleimani --THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al--is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation. The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism."

Agnes Callamard ( UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions):

"The targeted killings of Qasem Soleiman and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis are most lokely unlawful and violate international human rights law: Outside the context of active hostilities, the use of drones or other means for targeted killing is almost never likely to be legal."

Rania Khalek:

"Anti-Trump pundits on CNN and MSNBC are saying they are happy Suleimani is dead. These people rail every day against Trump, yet they love the outcome of his agression. At the end of the day imperialism trumps hating Trump."

Syed Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah):

"To continue on General Soleimani's path, we'll raise his flag in all battlefields. Revenge for martyred fighters is a responsibility and an act of resistance."

Qais al-Khazali, leader of Iraqq's Asaib Ahl al-Haq:"All resistance fighters must be ready, as an upcoming conquest and a great victory await us."

Muqtada al-Sadr: Iraqi leader:"I, as the official of Iraqi National Resistance, give an order to readiness of the Mujahideen, especially Imam Mahdi Army and the Promised Today Brigade and whoever commands our order from the national disciplined factions to be fully prepared to protect Iraq."

General Ramezan Sharif  Spokesperson for IRGC:"Such momentary joy of Americans will definitely turn into mourning not too late, and we will take revenge for the blood of that glorious martyr."

Bassem Naim, Spokesperson for Hamas:

"[The assassination] opens the doors of the region to all possibilities, except calm & stability. USA bears the responsibility for that".

Former US vice president Joe Biden:

"President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep safe our troops and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, both here at home and abroad, and our partners throughout the region and beyond."

Bernie Sanders, US Presidential Nominee:

"Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars. Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one."

Konstantin Kosachev, (Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs): 

"I believe this is more than killing an important figure, this is a mistake. And the reason for this mistake is the typical American habit of personalizing any problem: 'Remove Saddam (Milosevic, Yanukovych, Gaddafi, Bin Laden, etc.) and everything will be solved.' But this is the logic of the show, not politics. It doesn't work longterm, but it can hit the organizers of the show like a boomerang."

M. K. Bhadrakumar (Ex-Indian diplomat):

"Indo-Pacific strategy is finished. US stays put in Middle East for another generation."

Max Blumenthal:

"Nested in the Trump admin and empowered by Kushner, some of the stupidest, most fanatical neocons appear determined to inflame a regional war. At the moment there seems to be no force in Washington (congressional Dems, Joint Chiefs, etc) limiting their thirst for escalation."